90% population in Tarn Taran town lacks access to drinking water

Chabal, a town on the India-Pakistan border, continues to grapple with severe civic issues, leaving its residents in distress. Despite being a significant business hub, the town is riddled with poor infrastructure and a lack of basic amenities. Garbage dumps are scattered across the town, with open drains and severely polluted water posing additional health risks.

Approximately 90% of the population in Chabal lacks access to drinking water, and 95% of residents have no sewerage system. The town’s streets remain in dilapidated condition, and there is no public toilet at the bus stand, a vital transportation point for commuters. The lack of streetlights adds to the town’s poor living conditions.

Chabal is a complex of seven gram panchayats: Adda Chabal, Chabal Pukhta, Chabal Khurd, Chabal Kham, Swaragapuri, Baba Langah, and Baba Baghel Singh Wala, with a combined population of over 20,000. Despite raising concerns for years, the residents’ cries for better infrastructure have largely gone unheard.

The town’s garbage problem is particularly troubling, with trash dumped in every corner, including roadways and vacant plots. On the Chabal-Amritsar road, garbage is frequently seen burning year-round. Saroj Bala, the Sarpanch of Adda Chabal, pointed out that there is no designated dumping site, so waste is disposed of wherever convenient for residents. Manjit Singh Rataul, Senior Medical Officer, added that while biomedical waste is disposed of properly, general hospital waste poses a significant challenge.

Additionally, Saroj Bala mentioned that residents had arranged for a single sweeper to clean Adda Chabal by contributing Rs 50 per house. However, the lack of proper waste disposal systems continues to plague the area.

The town’s water supply is another pressing issue. Devinder Sohal, a social worker, explained that the flow of contaminated drain water through the centre of the town has made the underground water undrinkable. As a result, residents rely on local Gurdwaras with tube wells for water, further complicating water accessibility. Furthermore, the town has no rainwater drainage system, leaving streets flooded with stagnant water for weeks during the rainy season. Some localities have sewerage systems, but they are connected to open drains, creating an unbearable stench and further health risks.

Chabal’s Community Health Centre is also struggling. Dr Manjit Singh Rataul, SHO at the centre, revealed that the hospital faces a severe shortage of medical officers, with only two out of the 10 sanctioned posts filled. This has led to the closure of emergency services, with medical officers only available on-call.

The town’s bus stand, established in 2015, remains locked, leading to buses parking on the roadside and creating constant traffic blockages. The roads are often jammed as a result.

Former Sarpanch Narinder Chabal stated that except for Chabal Khurd, none of the other villages have access to drinking water. The 70 solar streetlights installed five years ago are now non-functional.

Despite these ongoing issues, Saroj Bala, the current Sarpanch, has been actively bringing the issue to the attention of Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal, MLA, and the administration. She remains hopeful that the residents’ long-overdue needs will soon be addressed, and the town will be given the attention it deserves.